I won't focus on how slack I've been updating my blog! My preferred form of social media seems to have becomeInstagram, sophie_robins_mosaics. I love its instancy (is that a word?). However, I LOVE looking at other peoples blogs and gain loads from them so I will continue to update this one...and there is a lot to tell!

Back in October 2016, the City Council asked if I would install the work of ceramic artist Eric Foxley on the wall of Priory Park , Lenton , Nottingham.

Being someone who likes a challenge and loves an opportunity to learn something new, I accepted.

A couple of workman from the council turned up on the morning and attached some cement board -bought conveniently from the tile shop over the road! This was an on the job decision as we were told the wall was OK to have the tiles directly on them...no way!

All in all there were 96 tiles over 2 plaques.

What a pleasure it was unwrapping such beautiful hand made tiles.

As I was revealing each carefully packaged tile, I became fascinated by the artist and what inspired him for this work.

Eric Foxley has lived in the area for 50 years.He entitled the artwork "Local Life".

Each tile had been inspired by some aspect of local nature and industry or community interest.

The natural objects, like leaves or fruit he collected from walks in the local parks. Hard objects included pills representing QMC or Boots (head office is nearby) and tennis raquet strings from the Tennis Centre, (I was wondering what they were!).

Thank you Eric for this addition to Lenton, I had many compliments to your work as i installed it.

As luck would have it, I had just been on an adhesive and grouting course run by BAL in Stoke on Trent so I knew exactly whhich materials to use for the job and was able to practice my new found tiling skills!